Distributor cap cleaning tool



May 22, 1955 T. w. TALBOT DISTRIBUTOR CAP CLEANING Toor.

Filed June 29j 1954 INVENTOR. QZvmdd f3? @Zalvf BY A Trek/Vix United States Patent() DISTRIBUTOR CAP CLEANING TooL Thomas W. Talbot, Santa Monica, Calif., assignor to Reed Tollefsen, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Application .lune 29, 1954, Serial No. 440,008

1 Claim. (Cl. 51-241) This invention relates to an improved distributor cap cleaning tool, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for easy and eliicient cleaning of the terminals in the distributor cap forming part of the ignition system of an automobile.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide for the automobile mechanic as well as the layman a double purpose tool, one end of which can be used to clean the cable receptacles for wires from the coil and to the plugs, and the other end of which will adequately clean the electrodes which are contacted by the rotor of the distributor assembly.

Another important object of the invention is to provide in a single tool which can be manually operated, means for renovating the essential portions of distributor caps and which means will readily t the various types of such structures now in use or on the market.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specication.

'Ihe invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the main or handle portion of the distributor cap cleaning tool of this invention.

Figure 2 shows one end of the tool being used to clean the cable inserts or sockets of the distributor cap.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the corresponding end of the tool with the cleaning or reaming blade in operative position thereon.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rearning blade itself as used in the structures illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a detail View partly in section of a representative distributor cap showing the electrode cleaner assembled and in operative position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section showing one method of fastening the electrode cleaner into the corresponding end of the tool or handle.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the electrode cleaning element.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the fastening, holding means, or collet, slotted to receive the electrode cleaning element.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the handle of the improved distributor cap cleaning tool of this invention, the same being knurled to provide a better gripping action.

At one end of the handle 10 is provided an extension 12, preferably integral therewith, longitudinally slotted as shown at 14 and having a hole 16 drilled therethrough.

Adapted to be iitted into this extension of the handle is a ream blade 18 shaped as best shown in Figure 4, and the intertting of this blade with the slotted and drilled handle extension 12 is illustrated in some detail in Figure 3.

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The operation of this portion of the tool comprises essentially inserting, 'the same into the recess 20 for the reception of the current carrying cable and merely turning the same by hand,ras best shown in Figure 2. The blade also operates eliicieritly in the central cavity or recess 22 which is the coil terminal lead-in.

Obviously blades of various sizes and dimensionvcan be used with the same tool in order that the apparatus can be accommodated to different types of distributor caps.

At the other end of the handle 10 is an extension or shank 24 which is preferably circular in cross-section and is also longitudinally slotted at 26. This slot is to accommodate the central portion of a holding element or support 23 which is preferably made from a steel spring having a pair of central protuberances or pips 30, as best illustrated in Figure 7.

The ends of the spring element 28 are reversely bent as shown at 32, and these ends are coated or covered with an abrasive material or element 34.

This element, as shown in Figure 7, is assembled with the handle or holder 10 by sliding the central portion of the spring structure 28 into the slot 26 of the extension 24 of the handle l@ after a slotted sleeve element or collet 36 has been preliminarily sealed on to the extension 24. This collet is provided with a set-screw 38, as best shown in Figures 6 and 8, whereby it, with the blade 28, can be securely fastened in desired position on extension 24. The slots 44) in the collet 36 are obviously aligned with the slot 26 in the extension 24 in order to receive the spring element 28 and the set-screw 38 may pass through the threaded opening in the extension 24 and actually contact the blade 28, or it may simply be employed to squeeze the bifurcated portions of the extensions 24 together to securely retain the spring or blade 28 in position.

The resilient element 28-32 is so `tempered that it can be properly tted into the end face of the distributor cap 41 and with sulicient tension to effect a satisfactory abrasive or cleaning operation, all as best shown in Figure 5.

The end of the extension 24 lits into the central recess 22 for a suicient distance to properly maintain the tool in desired operating position and the resilient element 28 is preferably centrally cut away as shown at 42 in Figure 7 so as to adapt itself to any extensions 44 of the central cable recess 22 which may be present in certain constructions. This also assists in properly centering the tool for rotatable operation.

It will be evident that herein is provided a dual purpose cleaning element which is especially adapted for use with distributor caps of various types and which will operate satisfactorily in both the recesses for the reception of the cable ends and also to clean the electrodes which are contacted by the rotor while bringing energy from the coil leading to the various spark plug wires.

The device is simple, easily constructed, inexpensive, readily operated and any parts which eventually do wear out can be easily replaced.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A distributor cap cleaning tool comprising a handle, extensions at the ends of the handle, means on one extension for cleaning the rotor contacts of the cap, said cleaning means being removable, the rotor contact cleaner comprising an S-shaped resilient blade, an abrasive on the ends of the S-shaped blade, the extension holder for the 3 Y s blade being slotted for* the reception of same and means for retaining the blade in desired position in the slotted holder, said `retaining means comprising a collet and a set-screw, the end of the set-screw contacting the blade, positioning protuberances fixed in the blade, the blade 5 being notched for center positioning in the Work.

References Cited n the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,271 Franke May 1, 1906 10 Hill June 30, 1931 Issacs 1 Dec. 25, 1934 Krastin Apr. 13, 1943 Hein Oct. 2l, 1947 Malesky Mar. 13, 1951 

